Fly of the Month - August 2009

Lightning Bug

Hook: Daiichi 1560 12-18 (I use a scud hook, TMC 2487)
Thread: Uni-Thread 8/0 Black
Bead: Cyclops or Tungsten 1/8
Tail: Pheasant Tail Fibers
Body: Holographic Flat Tinsel, silver medium
Rib: Gold Wire, small
Thorax: Peacock Herl
Wing Case: Flashabou, pearl
Legs: Pheasant Tail Fibers
 
1. Place bead on hook.
2. Wrap 4-5 turns of lead wire on hook and push inside bead.
3. Start thread behind bead.  Tie on gold wire and wrap thread to bend of hook.
4. Tie on the tail using pheasant tail fibers and wrap thread back to eye of hook, making a smooth underbody.
5. Tie on the holographic tinsel at eye of hook.  Wrap the tinsel back to hook bend and then back to eye of hook.  This should give a smooth body with no gaps.
6. Rib the body with the gold wire, making the turns widely spaced.
7. Tie 5-8 strands of pearl flashabou on top of the hook at rear of where thorax will be.
8. Tie on peacock herl and wrap thread to eye of hook.
9. Wrap the peacock herl thorax.
10. Tie on the pheasant tail legs in a bunch on top of hook.
11. Pull the flashabou wing case over the thorax, splitting the bunch of pheasant tail so that you will have even legs on both sides of the hook.  Tie off.  Voila!!
 
You can fish this fly in either smooth or gently riffled water, dead drift.  Most of my takes have happened toward the end of the drift.

Joe Bernstein

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